Waste Reduction Fee Reinstated December 1
Aspen, CO – November 20, 2020 – The City of Aspen will reinstate the Waste Reduction Fee for using disposable paper bags at local grocers on December 1, 2020. The fee of 20 cents per single-use paper bag was first implemented in 2012 by the city to reduce waste. The City Manager temporarily suspended the fee in April 2020 out of an abundance of caution as the risk of transmitting the coronavirus via surfaces were not well understood.
Research analyzing how COVID-19 is transmitted continues to ensure policies support public safety. Current science supports that reusable bags do not pose a significant risk to public safety or play a role in spreading the virus. In response to this information, various municipalities have re-implemented policies that encourage reusable bags when shopping (e.g., bag fees, bag bans). Additionally, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not list reusable bags as a safety concern. The CDC offers guidelines for cleaning reusable bags to allow people to feel comfortable returning that practice.
Single-use bags pollute the environment, contaminate recycling, and consume finite resources. By re-implementing the Waste Reduction Fee for disposable paper bags, the City of Aspen encourages residents and visitors to reduce their consumption of single-use bags.
For more information, please visit cityofaspen.com/369/Reusable-Bag-Resources.
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